In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we start off with the New York Rangers, and some options to replace Igor Shesterkin in the crease. Next, Connor Hellebuyck could get sick of sitting from the sidelines, and could look to re-join the Winnipeg Jets before a trade is made.
Finally, after clearing waivers and starting off hot in the American Hockey League, Connor Zary remains a player of interest for a number of teams, including the Vancouver Canucks.
Rangers Looking to Bring in Another Goalie
After Shesterkin’s injury, leaving him out for the rest of the season, the Rangers are suddenly scrambling for a new goaltender. On top of Shesterkin being out, Joonas Korpisalo is out for the next month or so, and depth goalie Spencer Martin is out day-to-day too.
On Saturday Headlines, Elliotte Friedman noted that Hellebuyck being a target doesn’t make much sense. With both Hellebuyck and Shesterkin being signed to big long-term deals, he doesn’t expect that move.
What Friedman does expect, however, is for the Rangers to stay patient and not make a panic move.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)
Even while being patient and not panicking, a goalie trade can still happen. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes suggested Filip Gustavsson and Mackenzie Blackwood as trade targets. Both goalies are splitting the crease, but performing very well. Neither the Colorado Avalanche or Minnesota Wild are likely too eager to move either goaltender.
Weekes also added Petr Mrazek, James Reimer, and Jonathan Quick as free agents or retired goalies who could be options.
Both Mrazek and Reimer are unrestricted free agents who haven’t announced their retirement. Reimer joined the Ottawa Senators last season amidst goalie troubles, and could do the same with the Rangers.
With Quick in mind as an option, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan wrote, “Jonathan Quick, 40, is comfortable in retirement and now serves as NYR’s Director of Goaltending Development. But if the Rangers asked him to play, sources believe he could be a possibility.”
Hellebuyck Considering Return to Jets?
After the chaos of the offseason, headlined by Hellebuyck’s trade request and refusal to report to the team, they have come into the 2026-27 season playing some great hockey. Kyle Connor is playing some of his best hockey, their goaltending has been soild with Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson, and they sit in third in the Central Division.
On an episode of ‘Hello Hockey’, David Pagnotta suggested that Hellebuyck is considering rejoining the Jets, stating, “You’re starting to hear some conversations of maybe Hellebuyck starting to think about rejoining the [Jets] while wanting a trade, and simultaneously hearing that the guys in room aren’t really gonna welcome him with open arms”
This would be a difficult move for Hellebuyck to make. While ahead of the season, many of his teammates had good things to say about him, and didn’t publicly state any frustration, for any member of the team to publicly say that the team isn’t good enough to win will put a bad taste in everyones mouth.
The Jets are proving they don’t need Hellebuyck. He has the right to return to the team, but how comfortable would everyone be if he does?
Zary Has Teams Interested, Canucks a Possible Destination
The Calgary Flames waived Zary on Oct. 6, and in his first AHL appearance, scored. The Flames are trying to move him, but his $3.775 million cap hit has been a barrier for some teams.
The belief is that teams want Zary, and want to give him a chance to play in their organization, but that price tag is too much for many.
The Flames aren’t looking to use their last retention spot, with both Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri taking up two of those slots.
One team who has the space, and would be a logical destination, is the Canucks. Friedman stated the Canucks are one of the teams considering acquiring him, but doesn’t believe anything is imminent.
The 25-year-old has shown a lot of promise, but injuries have slowed him down, and he has fallen out of favour with the coaching staff.
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